Manjeshwar registers 76.6% polling

Manjeshwar recorded 76 per cent polling, Kasargod has 73.1 per cent, Uduma has 69.9 per cent, Kanjhangad 80.6 per cent and Tikkaripura registered 80 per cent polling.

Three candidates contesting at Manjeshwara assembly constituency were seen casting their votes at Kasargod on Wednesday morning. Manjeshwar sitting MLA and Left party candidate C H Kunjhabbu cast his vote along with his family members at ALP School at Anangur near Kasargod. United Democratic Front candidate P B Abdul Razak cast his vote at Badriya Adbul Khader memorial M P School in Chengala. BJP candidate K Surendran cast his vote at Nellikunje Girls’ Higher Secondary School.

Polling peaceful

The district over all had peaceful polling, without any untoward incidents. CPCRI polling centre in Kasargod which is said to be a sensitive booth had peaceful polling with central security forces deputed on duty. Mogral Puttur Government School, another sensitive booth had polling with police forces on security. Kumble school had a serpentine queue of women voters right in the morning.

When supporters of various parties tried to seek votes from the voters, security forces dispersed them and made way for peaceful voting at Uppala Government Higher Secondary School.

There are reports that fake polling had occurred at Manjeshwara Kunjathur Government Higher Secondary School. It is said that fake voters were brought in vehicles and made to vote right in front of the police. All in all, electorate including women and aged came in large number to exercise their franchise. All the polling centres had Voters’ Assistance Centres.

MLA’s visit

Sitting MLA of Manjeshwar C H Kunjhabbu visited Meeyapadau Vidyavardhaka Aided Higher Primary school and had a look at the voting process. Surprisingly, the booths were designed in such a way that voters could easily move from one booth to another. Though BJP and UDF candidates visited the school, they failed to identify this lapse.

Spoilt machines

The voting machines of Merkala (Booth no 98) and Meeyapadau (No 52) were spoilt due to which the polling procedure began late. Since the machines at ALP school at Bayarpadau was spoilt 9 votes were not registered. This was discovered by the authorities concerned later. The machines were replaced. The BJP symbol on the machine was allegedly concealed using ink at 118th booth at Badriyanagar in Kumble.